Hep lock help

cheesecakerunner · March 2013

My MWs (who deliver at a hospital) recently changed their policy and now every new mom MUST at least have a hep lock in place when she's admitted. I was so shocked to hear this yesterday at my appointment, I didn't even ask any questions.

I'm a huge needle-phobe (it's honestly one of my main reasons for wanting to go natural) and so am weighing my options.

I need to ask if I can sign a waiver and opt-out of this. If not, though - I want to hear about your hep lock experience to help me overcome my fear!

Did it hurt? Did it make hands-and-knees positions harder? Where you still able to labor in the shower/tub? Was the tip rubber or a metal needle? Could you choose whether to have it placed in your hand or arm?

I'll be asking all these same questions at my next MW appointment, too

aylafsu88 · March 2013

My OB had a policy about having a Hep lock as well. When I arrived at the hospital I was in transition and flat out refused to have one put in. The nurse did not argue with me. Things moved pretty quickly and I delivered LO within 2 hours of arriving. My OB never had time to argue with me either. Maybe you could avoid one by staying home as long as possible. That way when you arrive they do not have time to argue with you about putting one in.

cecilyandgautam · March 2013

Also a needle phobe over here, but pregnancy did a lot to correct that - not so scared now that I've had my blood drawn several times in a few months.

I've had a hep lock before, not while in labor, but I couldn't really feel it and I think in general if it's inserted properly, you shouldn't notice. It shouldn't inhibit your movement or freedom to get in the shower & tub. If it does, then it's probably in wrong and you should request that it be taken out and put in by a more experienced nurse.

The practice with the highest vaginal birth rate in my metro area is a midwife hospital-based practice that requires hep locks. I don't love the idea, but my chances are better with them than anyone else, so I'll compromise on that. I have other items I'm less inclined to compromise on, so I'm saving my fighting energy for other things, like declining cervical checks.

AmyRI · March 2013

I'm the same way. The nurse that took out my hep lock after DD was born could not believe that I was having a hard time as she did it. I said it was worse than giving birth to a 9 lb baby and I meant it.

It is not something that I feel is worth fighting over. It is not something I want, but there is no medical reason to decline it and in the event of an emergency, it's just one less thing that has to be done. But it is a personal decision.

It hurt as much as having blood drawn (which the hospital does on admission anyway). Mine was placed in the back of my left hand and did not interfere at all with any position, including hands and knees, that I was in during labor. I was still allowed in the shower (no tubs in my hospital). They inserted it with a metal needle, but what was left in my hand for the duration was just the plastic tip. The IV nurse that placed it was more worried about finding a vein large enough for it. I specifically asked for my left hand and there's a big vein right in the middle for the lock and that's where she put it.

bunnie712 · March 2013

I think mine was in the side of my wrist by my thumb. I didn't look at it going in and tried not to look at it during labor. By the time you get far enough into labor, you won't even think about it since your mind is so focused on the task at hand.

I had group B strep, so I had to have it for hooking up to the antibiotics every 4 hours. This time around I'm doing a planned homebirth and if for some reason the midwife wants to put it in, I don't see why it would be a problem. I hate needles - that's what initially got me looking into NB. But like pp said, if there were an emergency, it is one less thing that needs to be done.

tokenhoser · March 2013

I believe my hospital's policy is that they'd like me to have a hep lock, but last time I arrived 10 cm dilated and no one talked about putting one in. Many hospital policies don't apply if you don't do much labouring there.

I did end up with one post-birth to administer antibiotics, and it was not a big deal.

superned · March 2013

I had one with DD in my left hand. It did not hurt, nor did it interfere at all with my labor. I was able to be in the tub and shower, and in any position I felt necessary. I was administered pitocin after DD was born to help my uterus contract and control my bleeding.

With DS I arrived fully dilated and ready to push, so there was no time to put one in. I again needed pitocin due to excessive bleeding, and had to have it administered via a shot in my thigh. I also received a shot of a second medication for the bleeding (which I cannot remember what it was at the moment), plus a local anesthetic for a second-degree tear. So - three needles as opposed to just a hep lock and the local.

sschwege · March 2013

You can decline any and all medical procedures. That is your right and unless they decide to get a court order their hands are tied.

That being said, pick your battles, because they can make your time in the hospital really difficult if they want to. For me a hep-lock would not be a battle worth fighting, I don't see it as a big deal, but everyone is different.

elle_bee · March 2013

I had one with DD1 even though I arrived at the hospital ready to push and actually knocked it out when I was changing positions and blood started spraying around which was funny in retrospect...with DD2 I didnt have one. With this one I was originally planning a hospital birth with midwives and they had the same policy as yours and it really bothered me b/c I knew I didn't need it and just thought it would be a distraction ( I'm planning a home birth now so don't need to worry about that anymore

If you think it would bother you then I would sign the waiver, you don't need that kind of distraction right off the bat.

hamiltks10 · March 2013

This was something that really bothered me going into the birth of my son....I was SURE that I did not want the Hep lock and was ready to fight them about it.

But, I got to the hospital in transition. I had just enough time for one round of antibiotics for GBS+ before pushing my son out in under 30 minutes.

The IV was still connected from the antibiotics when I began pushing and I asked that they remove that...but my midwife said directed the nurse to kept the Hep Lock in. I didn't even fight it. My DH knew my birth plan and asked me if I wanted the Hep Lock removed...but at that point, I didn't care one bit about it. I didn't notice it while I was pushing and they removed it pretty quickly after I gave birth.

It totally ended up being no big deal. If I had been laboring at the hospital longer...things might have been different.

jennyelf · March 2013

I arrived at the hospital in an ambulance and the EMTs put a hep-lock in me as a matter of policy before I even got to the hospital. Nothing ever went in it, and it didn't prevent me from doing anything. I don't remember it hurting or anything, but I also donate blood and don't have any needle issues, so I might not be the best judge for you.

eatdrinkstretch · March 2013

Just wanted to add a different perspective. I did NOT want a hep lock and argued with my hospital MWs about it before I was in labor, but hospital policy said I had to have one do I did. I asked for it in my left arm and barely noticed it during my 45 hour labor.

I hemmoraged after delivery and I lost A LOT of blood. If the MWs had not been able to immediately deliver pitocin through my hep lock, I would have died or had to have an emergency hysterectomy. I will never argue about the hep lock again... There are so many battles in your journey to a natural birth that are worth fighting. This isn't one of them.

cheesecakerunner · March 2013

Thank you so much, ladies. I really appreciate your perspectives and you've given me a lot to think about!

tantdylf · March 2013

Honestly, I hated mine. With a firey passion. It was in my wrist and it was awful. I was labor img everywhere, in and out of the tub, hands and knees, it was so so annoying and uncomfortable. And then when DS was born I wanted it OUT! They made me wait until I got to my room and then ignored me and I finally told them I would take it out if they didnt. I hated it.

bripratt2 · March 2013

OMG that's literally exactly what I though op! I was more terrified of the IV than labor. The only problem you may run into is if you're gbs positive other than that you can pretty much refuse whatever you want. Our Lamaze teacher used to tell us to use the "its part of our culture" excuse or "we'll pray about it" and they'll leave you alone. You know if its not totally necessary and just for their convenience.

luvmyducks · March 2013

It didn't feel awesome going in--but it wasn't bad. And it was for like a second. Try to stay hydrated before you go and that will help your veins.

I labored in all different positions and in the tub--never bothered me. I had it in my hand I think....yeah, that's how much it bugged me--I don't even remember

ETA--just looked at pictures and it was in my arm.

pixieprincss · March 2013

I went along with the policy for DS1's birth and regretted it. In was in my hand and was a pain to keep dry while laboring in water. It did make hands and knees difficult. It also meant the OB could give me Pit very quickly after the birth, despite me not wanting it. At the time, I thought it would benefit me to "play nice" and agree to some of the interventions that seemed harmless. If I had an easy birth, it probably wouldn't have mattered much. But, with a hard birth it made things just that much easier for the hostile on-call OB I ended up with to do things her way rather than mine.

Runaway22 · March 2013

eatdrinkstretch:
Just wanted to add a different perspective. I did NOT want a hep lock and argued with my hospital MWs about it before I was in labor, but hospital policy said I had to have one do I did. I asked for it in my left arm and barely noticed it during my 45 hour labor. I hemmoraged after delivery and I lost A LOT of blood. If the MWs had not been able to immediately deliver pitocin through my hep lock, I would have died or had to have an emergency hysterectomy. I will never argue about the hep lock again... There are so many battles in your journey to a natural birth that are worth fighting. This isn't one of them.

My story is a little different, as I had to be induced while hoping to still go pain med free. Well, after going into labor shortly after the Cervidil was in place, baby's heart rate dropped to dangerous levels, and I had to get an emergency CS. Without the hep lock, they wouldn't have been able to administer the magnesium to stop contractions, nor the anesthesia to put me under as quickly as they needed to.

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